Occasional showers on the morning of June 21 couldn’t dampen the spirits of some 50 expats celebrating the 8th anniversary of the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE). The group, hailing from a dozen different countries, gathered for lively festivities in a lychee orchard in Nanshan’s Xili area.

After a brief walk along a muddy path in light rain shortly after 10 a.m., the group was treated to a feast of juicy, freshly picked lychees under tree canopies at the orchard.

Lis  Tatiana, from Belarus, picks lychees during a visit to a lychee orchard in Nanshan’s Xili area Saturday. She was among some 50 expats who gathered for the event celebrating the 8th anniversary of the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE). Photos by Liu Xudong

“It tastes really delicious,” said Serbian Helena Keric, who had not encountered the fruit before relocating to Shenzhen.

Before heading into the orchard, the expats took part in an icebreaker game to get to know one another. “Many expats know our staff well, but they may not know each other. So, we arranged a little game to warm up the celebration,” explained Rita Yang, director of the Shekou MSCE.

Eledir Busanello (R), from Brazil, tastes freshly picked lychees at the event.

After the game, orchard staff gave a brief demonstration on how to use long pruning shears to cut lychees from high branches. Eager to begin, the expats quickly ventured into the orchard to pick their own fruit.

A Japanese participant took a few minutes to find a cluster of lychees that were ripe and easy to pick.

“I’ve never seen so many lychees before. I’ve had them twice in Japan, though they were different varieties and not as good as these.”

Participants pose for a group photo at the event.

Portuguese artist Maria João Príncipe, widely known as Majó, attended with her husband Isaias Praxedes de Luna and their granddaughter Sofia. “It was a really nice experience,” Majó shared.

Ronel Hooton, from the U.K., expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Shekou MSCE, saying expats like himself were “incredibly fortunate” to be part of the center’s journey from the beginning. He also praised the center for its unwavering support and guidance through the years. “You were always there — brilliant, resilient, and compassionate. Our expat community would have truly been lost without your dedication and care, especially during the challenging times of COVID,” Hooton said.